Newly diagnosed, recently having eye issues

[Wpbmom]

Hi all! Recently diagnosed with small 3.5mm left side AN. Have tinnitus & high frequency hearing lost on AN side, slight balance issues @ times. I was thinking my latest issue is due to allergies or eyesight, but not sure. I'm having some dry eye issues & my eyes seem like they can't focus & makes me feel a little dizzy & strange. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this. Currently on watch & wait. I am going for another MRI with contrast in February, but this new symptom has me nervous! I don't want to "watch & wait" until I get a symptom that can't be reversed or prevented. I know it's a very small AN, but curious if anyone else has such a small one with symptoms like this. BTW...is an AN considered a brain tumor? Some sites call it one, some do not. So glad I found this website with people who understand & are there to help!!!

[Derek]

Hi there...

Commiserations on your recent unfortunate diagnosis but glad you found the ANA forum which you will find invaluable throughout your AN journey.

The symptoms that you mention are all fairly typical of AN side-effects albeit a check with your optician may be advisable to eliminate any eye problems that may not be AN related.

As you will no doubt be now aware, AN's are benign tumours arising from the 8th cranial nerve (responsible for hearing and balance) and travels from the brainstem to the inner ear transmitting sound and balance information from the inner ear to the brain. These tumours usually develop in the inner ear canal and expand towards the brainstem. Whilst they may eventually impact upon the brainstem they do NOT invade the brain. My personal take therefore is that I have a tumour on the 8th cranial nerve and do NOT have a brain tumour per se. Just my way of accepting the situation and this has worked well for me in for over 11 years in 'Wait & Watch' since my original diagnosis in 2002.

Best Regards

Derek

 

[Wpbmom]

Thank you Derek for responding & the info! I think I will make an appt with the eye doctor, just to be sure! 

[phantagrae]

If you're having any facial numbness (from the tumor pressing on your trigeminal nerve), it could affect your eye because that's also governed by the trigeminal nerve.  Facial numbness has been my primary symptom, and that has included numbness on the surface of my eye, which makes my eye feel odd very often.  I use over the counter drops (GenTeal) to keep my eye moisturized, just as a precaution.

I haven't had any vision issues, though, so I think you're wise to check with your eye doctor.  I went to see my ophthalmologist after I was diagnosed, to keep him informed and to have him take a look at my eye, just in case.

Best of luck.

[Wpbmom]

Thanks phantagrae! I can't even really explain the weirdness that I am experiencing with my eyes. I feel like I'm walking around in a haze. The MRI report says I have a 3.5 mm lesion within the left internal auditory canal along its lateral aspect which is isointense to brain. This is my second MRI within the last 3 months, because the first one was without contrast. The neurosurgeon said it is on the 8th nerve. Would that be causing the eye problems? I figured I would just have hearing and balance problems ( which are minimal right now). Thanks for your reply!

[PaulW]

Dry eye can be caused by pressure on the facial nerve by the AN
Make sure you tell the eye specialist that you do have an AN.
I know of someone who had their AN misdiagnosed for many years and ended up with an eye operation to "correct" muscles that control the eye. The end result.... the person is now slightly cross eyed, double vision is worse, and needs prismatic glasses to correct the problem and refuses to go back for a further operation for further fixes

[macdonalddobies]

I too am newly diagnosed, and having a lot of dizziness from a 3mm in left auditory canal. I feel like my eyes go blurry and the same things you have described. I feel this must be related. I have told my doctor and he just documents. What is your treatment plan? I just got my last MRI in Sept and going again in Dec. At this point, I think he is trying to figure out if it is cystic ( meaning fast growing) or not. I feel like I am having a lot of symptoms for something they are deeming so tiny.